Otto : a low-cost robotics platform for research and education
Edwin Olson · 2001
We have developed a high-performance, low-cost robotics platform named “Otto” designed for robotics researchers and educators. The platform consists of a microcontroller board as well as software development and runtime tools. Greater computational power allows more complex artificial intelligence and control algorithms to be implemented, enabling more sophisticated robot behavior. Over the course of two manufacturing runs, the platform has evolved significantly. This thesis documents the platform’s evolution, lessons learned during its design, and future planned enhancements. In addition, we taught a robotics engineering class at MIT using the Otto platform. The course and the students’ feedback on the Otto platform are also discussed. Thesis Supervisor: Lynn Andrea Stein Title: Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science